Chakras in Traditional Meditation and Endocrine Glands.

Glands and their functions, their relationship with nervous system and the charkas referred in yoga

Gl 1. Those parts of our body which secrete some chemicals/hormones are known as glands. According to releasing their secretions, these are divided in two types. 1. Those which release their secretions other than into the blood, and are called as Exocrine glands. E. g .saliva glands, tear glands, sweat glands and liver etc. 2. Those which release their secretions directly in the blood are named as Endocrine glands. These are mainly; 1. Pineal gland; 2. Pituitary gland; 3 Thyroid gland; 4 Para thyroid gland; 5 Thymus gland; 6 Adrenal glands; and 7 Gonads

Gl 2. Secretions of exocrine glands affect only those places which are near to their production place, and for short duration. But since the secretions of endocrine glands are released in the blood stream directly, these flow into the whole body and perform their work on far away places also from their place of production, and for long duration.

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Also, there is deep relationship of endocrine glands system with the brain, and both of them join together for coordinating all the functions of body. These reasons and the following points, make the topic important to be understood here.

Gl 3a. Coincidently the endocrine glands, and the five Charkas out of seven in our vital body/Prana Shareer which were given more importance in Yoga by the ancient Saints, are located on five places in our body side by side.

The same can be understood with the help of the chart as follows.

- Name of the gland/chakra - Location in the body

1. Pineal & Pituitary glands. - Near to centre of the forehead.

- Agnya Chakra. - Ce- ntre of the eyebrows.

- 2 Thyroid and Para thyroid glands. Near to voice box in the throat.

- Vishuddhi Chakra. - Behi- nd the voice box in the spine.

- 3 Thymus gland. - Ab- ove the heart in the chest.

- Anhad Chakra. - Be- hind the heart in the spine.

4 Adrenal glands. - - On the kidneys.

- Manipur Chakra. - Be- hind the Navel in the spine.

5 - Gonads. - - Ne- ar lower end of the spine.

- Mooladhar Chakra. - Lo- wer end of the spine.

- Also, one group of practitioners has given importance to six more Chakras and they called chakras as Chaitany Kendras or psychic centers. Out of these six, one called Jyoti Kendra is again near to the Pineal Gland and has been located in centre of forehead. The other, which is known as Shanti Kendra is near to the Hypothalamus.

- One of the other four is Braham Kendra located at the tip of the tongue which plays a vital role in expressing the thoughts and also has reversal effect in controlling the same by stopping to speak, which leads the brain in making an understanding the utility of creation of thoughts because the same are not being expressed. So it tends to exercise breaks over them.

- The second one is Praan Kendra located on tip of the Nose. This helps in controlling the depth and volume of breath by way of sending messages of quality of air.

- The third is Chaxus Kendra located in the inner parts of both the eyes. Relaxation of this Kendra has very positive effect on the brain in its relaxation.

- Fourth one is known as Apramaad Kendra and is located in the inner parts of both the Ears. Relaxation of this Kendra also helps brain in hearing the Unhad- Naad.

Gl 3b. Since the locations of endocrine glands and chakras are very near to each other, it seems that the working of endocrine glands is regulated by concentration of energy on the chakras nearing them as the same is felt while in meditation.

Gl 4.It is also important to note that the Pituitary gland has been found as controller of other lower glands, and has been termed as Master Gland. Likewise the Agnya Chakra has been described as regulator of other lower chakras, and called as Master Chakra. Due to this reason, many of earlier Saints advocated concentration on this chakra without bothering for other lower chakras, and got good results.

Gl.5. However such kind of meditation has become less effective now a day because neither we can concentrate for sufficient time on a point, nor we have so much volume of energy in our body which can show measurable results with this process. So we shall have to find some new techniques which can show good results in present time.